Low-grade chronic inflammation is attenuated by exercise training in obese adults through down-regulation of ASC gene in peripheral blood: a pilot study

Background: Obesity is characterized by low-grade chronic inflammation and an excess of adipose tissue. TheASCgene encodes a protein that is part of the NLRP3 inflammasome, a cytosolic multiprotein complex that is associated with inflammation and metabolic alterations. To our knowledge, there is no evidence regardingASCgene activity in obese adults in response to lifestyle modifications. Purpose: To evaluate the effect of hypocaloric diet and moderate-intensity structured exercise intervention onASCgene expression and inflammatory markers in obese adults. Methods Thirty-seven obese individuals aged 25 to 50 years were randomized to the hypocaloric diet exercise group or hypocaloric diet group. The participants underwent a 4-month follow-up. Electrical bioimpedance was used for body composition analysis. Biochemical data were analyzed by dry chemistry and insulin levels by ELISA.ASCgene expression from peripheral blood was performed using real-time PCR. Dietary data was collected through questionnaires and analyzed using the Nutritionist Pro (TM) software. Quantification of cytokines was conducted using Bio-Plex Pro (TM) Human cytokine. The Astrand-Ryhming test was used to estimate the maximum oxygen volume and design the moderate-intensity structured exercise program similar to 75% heart rate (HR) Results: After the intervention, both study groups significantly improved body composition (decreased weight, fat mass, waist circumference and abdominal obesity,p< 0.05). Besides, the diet-exercise group significantly decreasedASCmRNA expression, MCP-1, and MIP-1 beta inflammatory cytokines compared to the diet group (p< 0.05). While in the diet group, MCP-1 and IL-8 exhibited significantly decreased levels (p< 0.05). In the diet-exercise group, a positive correlation between the atherogenic index and waist circumference was found (r= 0.822,p= 0.011), and a negative correlation was observed between the delta ofASCmRNA expression and IL-10 levels at the end of the intervention (r= - 0.627,p= 0.019). Conclusion: Low-grade chronic inflammation was attenuated through individualized exercise prescription and our findings highlight the role of theASCgene in the inflammation of obese adults.